Dr. Amy McLean – Advancing Welfare for Donkeys, Mules, and Working Equids
PhD
For Dr. Amy McLean, PhD, a career in equine science was not a late discovery, it was a natural extension of her upbringing. Raised on a family-run donkey and mule farm in Georgia, Dr. McLean spent her formative years immersed in the daily realities of equid care, training, and management.
Long before entering academia, she developed an intuitive understanding of the physical and behavioral needs of both long-eared and traditional equids. These early experiences planted the seeds for a professional life dedicated to advancing the care, welfare, and scientific understanding of donkeys and mules.
Her involvement in agricultural youth programs such as 4-H and FFA further refined her interests, exposing her to structured animal science education and competitive evaluation. What began as hands-on experience soon evolved into a desire to understand the biological systems underpinning equine performance, health, and behavior.
Academic Pathway and Scientific Formation
Dr. Amy McLean pursued her undergraduate education at the University of Georgia, where she completed a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Animal Science, emphasizing equine studies, and Dairy Science, complemented by a minor in Agribusiness.
She continued at the University of Georgia for her Master of Science degree, specializing in reproductive physiology, training that provided a strong foundation in applied animal biology.
Her doctoral studies at Michigan State University marked a defining stage in her scientific career. Earning a PhD with a focus on donkey nutrition, training, and management, Dr. Amy McLean conducted extensive research in Mali, West Africa.
This work addressed the welfare of working donkeys, animals that remain essential to transportation, agriculture, and family survival in many regions of the world. Her research combined field observation with practical intervention, reinforcing her commitment to science that directly improves lives.
Faculty Appointment and Teaching Excellence at UC Davis
Dr. Amy McLean currently serves as an Associate Professor of Teaching in Equine Science within the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis.
In this role, she is responsible for delivering a diverse portfolio of upper-division courses that span equine behavior and welfare, exercise anatomy and physiology, advanced nutrition, reproduction physiology, equine enterprise management, and experiential internships.
Dr. Amy McLean’s teaching approach is deeply informed by her international research background. She integrates global case studies, welfare challenges, and applied science into her curriculum, ensuring students gain both technical knowledge and an appreciation for the broader role equids play in societies worldwide.
Hands-on learning remains central to her philosophy, allowing students to translate theory into practice.
Research Leadership and Innovation
Dr. Amy McLean’s research program is internationally recognized for expanding scientific knowledge related to donkeys, mules, and hinnies, species that have historically received limited attention within equine research. Her work addresses both foundational physiology and applied welfare assessment.
Ongoing projects include the evaluation of pain in donkeys and mules using facial grimace scales; development of hematology and blood biochemistry reference values across different physiological states; and behavioral monitoring using smart technology such as halters, GPS units, and radio collars.
She is also involved in studies examining muscle fiber composition, morphometric variation among equids, migratory behavior in feral donkey populations, and welfare indicators in working animals.
These initiatives frequently involve interdisciplinary collaboration with academic institutions, conservation groups, and government agencies.
International Engagement and Global Welfare Impact
Since completing her doctorate, Dr. Amy McLean has worked in more than 28 countries, leading research and educational initiatives alongside universities, nongovernmental organizations, and local partners. Her international work emphasizes participatory methods, engaging directly with equid owners and communities to ensure research outcomes are practical and culturally relevant.
She has also provided technical guidance related to the donkey skin trade, consulting with policymakers and government officials in multiple regions to support regulation grounded in scientific evidence and welfare principles.
Publications and Scholarly Contributions
Dr. Amy McLean has authored or co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and contributed numerous book chapters addressing donkey and mule behavior, training, welfare, and management. Her work includes contributions to internationally respected publications, including a chapter on working equid welfare featured in a volume edited by Temple Grandin.
In addition, she has played a key role in developing donkey husbandry manuals distributed in multiple languages, expanding global access to evidence-based care practices.
Industry Involvement and Professional Leadership
Beyond the academic sphere, Dr. Amy McLean has maintained an active presence within the equine industry. She previously served as the International Director of Marketing for the American Quarter Horse Association, working closely with stakeholders across continents.
She has also coached youth and collegiate horse judging teams to world championship success and continues to serve on boards for national mule and donkey organizations.
In recognition of her expertise, she was invited to chair a dedicated Donkey and Mule Medicine session at the American Association of Equine Practitioners Annual Convention, an offering not seen at the conference for more than two decades.
Dr. Amy McLean: Service, Outreach, and Life Beyond Research
Dr. Amy McLean volunteers as a board member for the Equitarian Initiative, where she leads research programs and supports field-based education focused on working equids in Central and South America. Her outreach reflects a consistent theme throughout her career: improving animal welfare as a pathway to improving human wellbeing.
Outside her professional commitments, she remains actively involved in national-level mule competition, regularly ranking at the top of amateur all-around divisions. This continued engagement reinforces her connection to the animals at the heart of her work.
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